The folks who make your Hasbro Toys

[MIB41]

I can't agree.
Thing is: we know that this kind of slave labor is happening. If we enter an agreement with a factory, knowing what happens within the walls, we agree to that policy.
Let's say you're the boss of a company. The floor manager is a brute. You know the floor manager is a brute. That makes you responsible as well. You can say: I won't work with a man like that. He treats the workers badly.

But to take that step, a huge step, we would have to completely revise our whole economy. We would have to pay more, but the work might be more ethical.

Counter point I don't KNOW any of this. I don't live there. I don't know anyone who works for these factories. And I doubt all factories in other countries treat their workers like this. Other countries have smaller economies and as such, require smaller wages. Of course there are documented abuses in a number of different cases. I'm not closing my eyes to the problem. But I won't stereotype the entire industry based on a few bad apples. Nobody wants to buy product from a sweat shop. Hasbro will take a hit for this. Their stock has been in decline for the last six months. I'm quite sure this has become a fire storm for many an executive at the company. It will have to be addressed and changes will be made. Otherwise the reports will continue and they will lose consumer confidence and investor share. THAT is why I don't consider the the consumer a hypocrite. When we do KNOW about these abuses, we demand action. And Hasbro's competition scrambles to make sure their factories are inline as well. So no. I don't believe when I walk down the toy isle or order a Hot Toys figure I have purchased an item made in a 'slave camp'. Not for one minute. Do I think their made by people in smaller economies? Yep. Likely making less than me? Probably. But does the pay they receive translate into a good life for their economy and standard? I have read cases where this is very much the fact. And a lucrative one from their perspective. So, to use a generic analogy, these don't all have to pay like beer and pizza jobs.

[samurainoir]

Louis CK pretty much sums it up best

“I drive an Infiniti. That’s really evil. There are people who just starve to death – that’s all they ever did. There’s people who are like, born and they go ‘Uh, I’m hungry’ then they just die, and that’s all they ever got to do. Meanwhile I’m driving in my car [kicking back music blaring] having a great time, and I sleep like a baby.

It’s totally my fault, ’cause I could trade my Infiniti for a [less luxurious] car… and I’d get back like $20,000. And I could save hundreds of people from dying of starvation with that money. And everyday I don’t do it. Everyday I make them die with my car.”

[Jerry68]

I did not see what I am about to say, so if somebody did post I am sorry. This is a communist country! Are really so suprised by this? The only way to stop this is to impose the same tarrifs on them that they impose on us. another, to make them another cuba, and make it illegal to do any business with them. The problem, our government, be it republican or democrat is just as corrupt as any other. We had this same discussion at my office two days ago. I would pay a 25-40% premium to buy made in America. So would other people, but our government as it stands now would not allow it. Just my 2 cents.

[samurainoir]

Considering these same factories have no problem pulling a screw on their clients, namely Castaway and Zica, is this news really all that surprising?

Someone can correct me if a am mistaken, but I think it's already been established that the person pulling the screw that you refer to is in fact the middle-man, who is a British ex-pat living in Singapore. "these same factories" is probably an incorrect assumption/generalization given the smaller quantities involved compared to the mass quantity scale that Hasbro requires.

[Thor]

Yup Gee, 14 million Americans out of work.......wouldn't hurt to bring these jobs back here to get Americans Back to work........

Amen brother.

[Megotu]

One thing I had mentioned was workers being made part owner of the company via stock ownership. This is a method where they can profit themselves by keeping all production and labor costs down. And I mean serious ownership. Like let's say 25 percent of the shares are owned by the workers themselves. This could be a static pool. Whereby it is owned as part of a mutual fund that they buy into weekly. ANd not out of their paycheck but as a part of their compensation. After fully vesting in say seven years, then they can buy more or sell their part of the fund. Educate them on how they can invest their dividends. Show them the most profitable ways to utilize the money they earn. Make taking the classes mandatory as part of their 40 hour week. The best employee that a company can have is one who knows what the company is actually able to do for them.